Alice Capsey's teenage dream continues with another piece of silverware

CHARLIE PETERS: Already a Charlotte Edwards Cup and Hundred winner, the 17-year-old has become the first female winner of the PCA young player of the year award

Seventeen-year-old Alice Capsey has expressed her surprise at being awarded the inaugural cinch PCA women’s young player of the year award before she has even turned professional.

The allrounder has impressed with bat and ball this summer for South East Stars and for Oval Invincibles in The Hundred and is keen to credit the latter competition for her development.

“For me personally it’s been massive,” said the right-hander. “It’s given me the platform to really show what I can do. It’s grown the women’s game so much, from people who weren’t interested in women’s cricket, because they came along to the doubleheader, getting involved and actually then really seeing how exciting it can be.

"I think it’s bought in a group of new people, obviously aiming at young children. It’s been amazing to be a part of reality.”

It has been a meteoric rise to prominence for Capsey. A player of the match performance in the Charlotte Edwards Cup final inspired South East Stars to victory, while her off-spin was a key component of the victorious Invincibles side that were crowned inaugural winners of The Hundred, going at less than a run a ball for the majority of the competition.

After such a strong showing, it is only natural that the thought of international honours is on the brain. Yet, Capsey carries a remarkably level head for one so young and gave a typically considered response when asked about England coach’s Lisa Keightley’s interest in her ahead of the tour of Australia this winter.

“You have an eye on England, but you want to perform for your team and I think I’ve done that this season," she explained. "Whatever happens in the future will be great. It’s nice to hear [of Keightley’s interest] but I’m just taking in my performances as they come.”

^{Capsey backed up her Hundred displays with a player of the match display in the CE Cup final}

Until then, though, Capsey’s focus is that of most 17-year-olds: her studies. She has had to juggle her A-Levels with her blossoming cricket career so far and will continue to do so even after her breakout season.

“It’s great to come back to school and just to be around my friends,” she chuckled, “they keep me grounded by taking the mick a bit which is always nice.

"It’s been quite an easy transition [from cricket to school], the teachers have been amazing. Even when at the beginning of term when I wasn’t in school they were sending me to work, so I’ve been able to keep up with it, which made it really easy to fit back into all of the classes. It’s been a nice transition.

“I’ve already started having discussions with my teachers if the possibility that I get selected does come around. I’m looking to get as much work as possible done this side of Christmas, then I don’t have as much to do after.

"But all of my work’s done on my laptop, and all the lessons are recorded, so even when I’m not there I can still do some schoolwork. As much as it’s probably not what I want to be doing, it’s quite important.”

After the season she’s had, there is every chance that the Invincibles breakout star will be filing her winter term homework from a sunny hotel room in Australia, instead of her classroom.

Alice Capsey was speaking following the 52nd cinch PCA Awards,  the biggest awards ceremony in English cricket.